If a detailed physical examination by a specialist shows that most of your interior surfaces have an unusual appearance, a smooth brown coating covered by a strange dark mottled pattern that looks like this:
Then this condition indicates we have a serious problem on our hands. Experts now believe this pattern is symptomatic of unknown environmental factors that were probably contracted in the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio, and unless scientists are able to replicate these factors, you will never again look or feel quite right. So we need to find the answer, stat!
The interior woodwork of the Shaker Heights 18 has this pattern, and we're not sure whether this was applied by the builder, Kuhlman, or later in the Shaker Heights shops. For instance, here's the bottom rail of a window that was badly rotted out:
The bottom 1½" of the rail was cut off and replaced with a new piece of wood, attached with screws. (This is not an unusual method of repair. The CA&E did the same thing.) But this replacement piece has the same pattern as the rest of the wood, indicating it must probably have been done in the company shops. So they somehow knew the same trick. Anyway, we'll be working on trying to reproduce this appearance. None of our other cars have anything like this, as far as we know.
Meanwhile, progress continues on making new frames. I have the parts for the next two replacement windows in the shop. It's great to have something constructive to do during the lockdown.
6 comments:
Have you tried doing a Google or duckduckgo search for 'wood grain paint simulation'? There seem to be a plethora of sites showing techniques in response to a quick search.
C Kronenwetter
We have, actually. As you say, there are plenty of ways to make a faux wood grain, for instance if you want to make a steel filing cabinet look like it's wood, ha ha. But this pattern doesn't look like wood grain, it's more like badly alligatored shellac. And why they thought this was a good idea will probably remain a mystery. But we're hoping that Frank with his superior artistic skills will figure out how to reproduce it.
You could try a deeply-colored varnish, and see if it gives you the results you want, on some test wood and metal. As an older style of finish, it will alligator as well (which is what appeared to have happened).
O. Anderson
But this isn't alligatoring, it's just paint, and it's perfectly smooth. That's a lot easier to tell when it's right in front of you, of course. The same paint technique was used on the metal parts, and it looks exactly the same. We suspect they must have had a roller of some sort to apply the paint quickly and evenly, because the shops couldn't have afforded to use a method that took a huge amount of time and effort. In any case, thanks for the suggestions.
With the lockdown, I haven't seen your parents for months. I sure hope they're doing well.
They are doing well and working in the garden more than ever. Thanks.
I am guessing that the paint was applied in two coats, a lighter base coat, and yes the idea of a roller makes a lot of sense. However, when I have used napped rollers, I seem to recall quite a bit of texture arrives. Perhaps the final coat was at an extremely thin viscosity. Good luck!
My father was a faux finisher, and that looks like badly aged burled walnut wood grain-Ben Rohling
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